BeUTAHful

When we moved to Virginia I knew I would miss home.  I do not think there is a way one can leave a place they have lived their entire mortal existence and not feel a longing to go back. Our plan was for summer. We would take a family vacation and fly back for a couple of weeks to soak in some family time. However the reality of flying 6 people from one coast to the other set in quickly and it rapidly became apparent that would not happen this year.

I told myself I would be okay with that. I tried really hard to be okay with that. But there was an ache for home that was constant. I am extremely blessed for many reasons but topping that list would be my most understanding and supportive husband. When I mentioned the idea of flying home solo for a week to see family he didn't balk at the idea for a moment. So tickets were booked and I was able to spend and entire week with those I love.

Brielle was my travel partner. I told most people it was because it was easier for Chris to handle the kids if I took her. (which was definitely true) But the most real truth was that I can't go a day without that chubby cheeked girl. She is my drug and I am completely addicted.

I started in St George, traveled to Brigham, back to Layton, Brigham again then ended the trip in Salt Lake. I was able to see so many friends and family members who made time to fit me in. I have so many people I love that live in that little state.

Leaving was harder than I imagined it would be. If I didn't have my 5 most favorite people living in Virginia I don't know that anything would have gotten me back on that plane. But board it I did, with an oath I would someday call Utah home again.

A few favorite pictures in no particular order.

Cousins!

Grandma and Grandpa left for their mission to the Philippines the same day I left to go back to Virginia. 

Some pickle ball with the girls

Chris's aunt Terri and I went walking around the Bountiful temple one morning. 

These cute cousins are within a year of each other. 

My immediate family

Shrimp Steak from Maddox.

I do love these humans fiercely. 

All of my nieces and nephews on my side

All of my nieces and nephews on Chris's side

Utah Trip from Jill Clayton on Vimeo.

A time for learning

The School year came and like a thief in the night it stole away all of our extra play time. Our days are now full of math and reading and schedules. I love myself a good schedule and heaven knows I live for a balanced routine, but our spontaneous days of lazy mornings, sunshine and roller coasters were gone too fast. 

Kaden and Taycee were more than excited to be starting school. The clothes were ready to go, the backpacks laid out and the school supply lists checked off ($100 dollars later, seriously? I don't think my parents ever spent $100 on my school supplies). Chris is convinced he will have to pick up a second job to get all four kids through elementary school. Heaven help us when they get to high school. 

They were itching to run out the door an hour before the bus would arrive, I pray that they always have such an enthusiasm for learning. 

 Kindergarten? This little miss looks like she should be in 5th grade. Actually, as I was stalking behind her in the hall (I couldn't just let her walk to class by herself despite her insistence that she was FINE.) two people asked if she was walking into the right classroom.  Random School Helper "Hey sweetie, are you headed to 2nd grade?" Taycee: "No, Kindergarten" Man B: "Are you sure your in kindergarten?" she emphatically nodded, Man B says to a passerby "She looks too tall to be in kindergarten" The tiger mom in me wanted to jump in and explain that her father is 6'7" and her mom is 5'11" and she has about as much chance of being "average height" as a hippo has of fitting in a mini cooper, and that she was in fact only 5 years old.  But I didn't. Instead I just watched as her confident little self marched into her classroom gave her teacher the biggest hug ever (who she had met only one time prior) and then sat down at her little table. She really was fine, and I thought my heart might burst as I watched this capable, intelligent, beautiful little girl.

 Kaden asked for weeks prior to school starting when it would start again. This most social bug could hardly stand to be away from all 22 of his friends for an entire 12 weeks. He is the happiest and the kindest, and I just wish I could bottle every inch of his 7 year old self up and keep it forever because I just don't think they come any better than him.

We had an FHE lesson before school started and talked a lot about finding people who need a friend. We talked about the importance of being kind and making sure everyone felt included. I was so proud as each day they came bolting off the bus telling me about the times they were able to help a new friend feel happy. It is good to be smart, but it is most important to be kind.

I offered to drive them both on their first day but they chose the bus and skipped off together hand in hand.  

 Taycee marched onto that bus without a second glance back

 The doors closed and I immediately jumped in my car to follow them to school and stalk them down the halls til they reached their classrooms. 

We are in to school 3 weeks now and they are still as eager as day 1. I feel slightly guilty as they have little to no play time in a day but they don't seem to mind. In between math lessons, and word study, and PP--LL--AA--NN--EETT we have found a rhythm and as always I find myself just lucky to be their momma.  

Lights in the sky

One of the nights we were at the beach there was a huge lightning storm.  It was beautiful. We sat out on our balcony and watched for quite awhile with the kids and after the kids fell asleep Chris and I walked out onto the beach to watch a little longer.  We climbed up into a life guard tower (it was wood and the storm was not close to us). I spent a good 30 minutes trying to catch a lightning bolt on camera as it cracked across the sky. But I was so busy enjoying the awe inspiring surroundings that I would always miss them. It was my most favorite night, watching the light show in the sky snuggled up against Chris on our own private tower with the sound of waves crashing 15 feet in front of us, I could have stayed there all night. 

 There were several times the sky was lit up like day. A lot of the lightening was behind the clouds so we couldn't see the bolts just the bright lit up clouds. 

Virginia is for lovers

We have wanted to take a family vacation for such a long time. There was always something that came up: work, doctors, weather...the list went on. But as the summer started coming to a close it was apparent that a vacation wasn't just a want any longer we NEEDED to get away. So I started deal searching and with a lot of luck, (and what I am positive was some help from above) we scored an ocean front condo at Virginia Beach. It was a dream. Ideal location, ideal weather and 5 of my very most favorite people. 

I wish I could capture completely the serenity that came from sitting on the balcony listening to the waves crash on the ocean and watching as the sun peaked above the horizon turning the sky different shades of red and pink. There will never be words to encompass the sheer joy on Kaden's face as he charges into the waves imprinting his feet in the sand behind him. It was magical. It was also a lot of work and at times extremely stressful, but memories were made that I hope are held for a lifetime.

It was a getting-to-know you time. I know my children well, I can make each individual sandwich exactly to specification before I ever receive the lunch requests. I know where to find the misplaced shoes and the forgotten backpacks, yet sometimes I forget WHO they are. Kaden has such a love for life, everything is bigger and brighter and better through his eyes. Sitting with him on the sand and listening as he told me about "this totally awesome wave I just caught" reminded me of the inherent joy that always exudes from him. He has five new friends every place we go. He doesn't ever bother to learn their names though, they are all just "buddy"or "dude". I used to think he honestly couldn't remember their names but I have come to learn that it is just so inconsequential to him that he doesn't bother storing the information. EVERYONE is a friend to him it doesn't matter your age, gender, size, skin color, and it certainly doesn't matter your name. He always had a new friend and kids were seeking him out the next day to play again. Taycee is such a nurturer, she doesn't want anyone to be sad. She is a second mother to everyone in the family. She was always checking to make sure everyone had sunscreen on had lifejackets before we left the condo. She is my most cautious fearless child. The first day she would not let the water hit her past her knees unless dad had a firm grip on her hand. By day 7 the life guards were blowing their whistles at her for roaming too far out to sea. She is incredibly smart and observes everything in her surroundings, there wasn't a seashell within 50 feet she didn't spot and pick up. Addi and Brie have developed a new relationship that is as equally hilarious as it is obnoxious. They are drawn to each other like magnets and it seems they can't tolerate each other at the same time. Wherever one goes the other is quick to follow and then squabbling is quick to ensue. Brielle has developed this screech she saves for whenever Addi has touched something she deems hers. It is high pitched and ear piercing.   The problem is Brie deems pretty much everything as hers and so has Addi. The silver lining in this situation would be that Addi is now talking in sentences... but only to Brie and only when she is mad. Quite often now I hear "No, No Briel-la" "Get off Briel-la" "Dats mine Briel-la" For now I smile and suppress a laugh. Ask me again in a week and it might be a different story. They are such independent little ladies. Neither one had any fear of the crashing waves and made a break for the water every other minute. Luckily they were equally content to be held as the water crashed around them, so we did a lot of water wading with a baby perched on a hip.

It was so good just to be, without appointments and schedules and emails. Life was slower and the only things to focus on were the five people who deserve all my attention. There was a moment as I sat on the warm sand and watched the kids play that I couldn't catch my breath. My babies are changing and growing so quickly, I watched the sand sift through my toes and felt like the seconds of their lives were just the same, so vast yet so impossible to hold. They are kind and smart and good, they are becoming these people that I am so proud of and it is all so heartbreakingly beautiful. 

The first night they shot fireworks off over the ocean. We sat and watched them from the balcony. It was a pretty good way to kick things off. 

When we pulled out swimming things I noticed we ALL had a neon something. Although I had bought the girls suits on purpose the others were coincidental. We had to take a picture. I think I will dub it the "Tennis Ball Family"

I can't explain how thrilled Taycee was to have matching suits. I tried to find Addi one to match but had not luck.  I made us all matching turbans but after this picture decided against actually wearing them to the beach. 

"A-mon momma. I show you" was a common phrase out of Addi's mouth. She always had something new to show us. Usually it was just a ploy to drag us back into the water. 

Our first sand creation was an octopus which Taycee named "Elsa"

Our Sand Castle. It started out with grand design but we pooped out early.  Taycee collected approximately 300 shells to cover the front of it. 

Our last creation was a whale but we could not get the tail right and the kids were ready to eat dinner. So then we decided it was Finn the goldfish (like the cracker?) but then after we took this picture we decided it was more like a chicken drumstick that was smiling at you. Kinda creepy. 

Kaden drew this for me in the sand

I think in all I came home with 250 pictures on my camera, I sorted and deleted but still couldn't get it down to a reasonable amount so a video was the only way to go. 

Virginia Beach from Jill Clayton on Vimeo.